Introduction to Osteoporosis

Introduction:

Osteoporosis is made up of 2 components which literally mean ‘porous bone’ – ‘osteo’ which stands for bones while ‘porosis’ is for bone. Osteoporosis is the weakening of bone tissues that causes it to become very brittle to the extent that a simple fall can cause a fracture.

People who are at risk:

It is a hormone-related disease that can affect everybody regardless of gender and age but it occur more commonly is postmenopausal women. Peak bone mass is achieved at the age of 30. Afterwards, the bone mass will slowly decrease. In pregnant and lactating women, the rate of bone loss will increase much faster if the increased calcium demands of being pregnant or breastfeeding are not met.

According to a research done by SingHealth, the risk of 200 million women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis and a woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. In Singapore, the cases of osteoporosis - related hip fractures in women over 50 years is 8 times more than that of breast cancer cases.

Pic on the left: healthy people, high bone density, less prone to facture

Pic on the right: People with osteoporosis, low bone density, more prone to fracture

http://scienceblogs.com/lifelines/2014/11/14/new-treatment-for-osteoporosis/

http://www.osteoporosistreatment.link/tag/osteoporosis-x-ray-vs-normal

References:

http://www.singhealth.com.sg/PatientCare/ConditionsAndTreatments/Pages/Osteoporosis.aspx

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155646.php

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/basics/definition/con-20019924